This Unit at a Glance:

Grade Band:

Grades 9-12
 

Integrated Subjects:
(click to view more lessons in these areas)

 

Targeted Standards:

The National Standards For Arts Education:

Dance (9-12)
Standard 1: Identifying and demonstrating movement elements and skills in performing dance

Dance (9-12)
Standard 2: Understanding choreographic principles, processes, and structures

Dance (9-12)
Standard 3: Understanding dance as a way to create and communicate meaning

Dance (9-12)
Standard 4: Applying and demonstrating critical and creative thinking skills in dance

Dance (9-12)
Standard 7: Making connections between dance and other disciplines

Visual Arts (9-12)
Standard 3: Choosing and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas

Visual Arts (9-12)
Standard 6: Making connections between visual arts and other disciplines

 

Other National Standards:

Language Arts I (K-2) Standard 7: Uses reading skills and strategies to understand and interpret a variety of informational texts

Language Arts I (K-2) Standard 9: Uses viewing skills and strategies to understand and interpret visual media

Language Arts IV (9-12) Standard 6: Uses reading skills and strategies to understand and interpret a variety of literary texts

Physical Education IV (9-12) Standard 1: Uses a variety of basic and advanced movement forms

 

Icon Legend:

Part of current Spotlight Icon = part of the current spotlight
New Window Icon = opens in a new window
Kid Friendly Icon = kid-friendly
Printed Media Icon = printable
Interactive Media Icon = interactive
Audio Media Icon = audio
Video Media Icon = video
Image Media Icon = images

Dancing in the Park with Friends

 
Email This Page
Provide Feedback
Print This Page

Unit Overview:

Stephen Sondheim's musical Sunday in the Park with George is inspired by the painting "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte," by Georges Seurat. In this unit, students study both the painting and the play. After answering questions about Seurat and his artwork, students learn a dance based on a character in the Sondheim's play. Finally, they choreograph an original dance piece.

 

Lesson Overviews:

Introduction to Seurat and Sondheim

Students study Seurat's painting, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, and develop physical gestures for one of the characters.

 

Choreographing Characters in a Painting

Students learn a choreographed dance from the musical Sunday in the Park with George.

 

Sunday in the Park with George: The Finale

Students present dance compositions they choreographed in a previous lesson.

 

Authors:

  • Lillian Hasko, Dance Teacher
    Montgomery County Public Schools
    Silver Spring, MD United States
 
Copyright The Kennedy Center. All rights reserved. ARTSEDGE materials may be reproduced for educational purposes.